The Renegade Rip Bakersfield College
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Vol. 84 ∙ No. 10
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Presidential candidates visit campus The three finalists for the vacant role of Bakersfield College president spoke on campus Sept. 25-26 to discuss their qualifications and ideas for the future of BC. The candidates were asked a series of questions by faculty and students, and they were able to give their views on each topic mentioned. For backgrounds on each candidate, see Page 5.
Photos by luis garcia / The Rip
Pedro L. Martinez By Patricia Rocha Editor in Chief Pedro L. Martinez focused on his ideas to improve student success, looking for more fundraising opportunities, and create a “core” based on general education classes. Martinez made it clear he thinks students are the most important part of the campus community. “That’s why we’re employed,” he said. “That’s how the college exists. That’s how the budget is allocated. They are the most important.” With his background in a university environment, he feels the atmosphere of a university and community college isn’t very different, except that a community college is a better choice for those individuals who have responsibilities outside of school like providing for their families. “The role of community college is multiple,” he said. “It includes the basic skills, includes the certificates, the short term. The beauty of the community college is the metaphor that has been used before: it’s like a train. “You get on that train and it has different stops, so a student may be able to get on for employment purposes, and be able to get on their feet.” Martinez said he wants to fill
the role as president of BC because of the close-knit environment and his personal passion of helping students achieve their fullest potential. “I choose to look for employment in an environment that is more personal in terms of providing [success] to our students,” he said. “Community colleges are a perfect place for that.” Martinez also described the importance of fundraising through a variety of forms. “Fundraising is the ability to find sources,” he said. “You can find those in many forms, whether it’s through state and federal grants, whether it’s through corporations, whether it’s in the form of a gift from individuals. I would say that 75 percent of fundraising really comes from individuals.” He felt the president of the college should be active in finding new ways to raise school funds. “The role of the president is to be able to find all the resources to enhance what you have,” he said. He also focused on the importance of a strong general educational based “core” so that students are able to critically think, are able to communicate in terms of the spoken and written word and increase how much they know, including technological knowledge.
Inside
Kevin Trutna By Martin Chang Opinions and Features Editor For Kevin Trutna, the ideas of being close to the classroom, focusing on “program excellence” and basic education are important. Trutna, currently a vice president at Yuba College in Northern California, talked about his time as a teacher and how its important to being a college president. “I believe there is an educational component,” he said. “I still consider myself a teacher. You draw upon that as an administrator. You ask, ‘How would I have taught that as a faculty member?’” Trutna says he still goes in to visit classrooms to offer his assistance to students. “I still go to the tutoring sessions before finals for math. Being there helping, showing that, hey, I care about your success. Since I’m coming through, I’ll help you,” Trutna said. “I want to know what this classroom is like with students in it, what the lighting is like, so when you complain the lighting isn’t right, and I can’t see my powerpoints, I have seen it.” When asked about basic adult education, such as classes to get a GED and learn basic math and English, Trutna expressed a strong belief in it.
“It’s our job to educate who walks through the door,” he said. “So there has to be a way where we can provide it, we can partner. Rationing education is poor public policy. “Through our budget cuts, we have gone through a 12 percent course load reduction. If Proposition 30 doesn’t pass, seven percent more. We are telling 19 percent of our population ‘Sorry we don’t care about you. We can’t serve you.’ “How good is that for public policy? The people that come to us, whether it’s math, English, or ESL needs, somehow or someway, we have to find a way [to educate them] or else our society’s in a downward tailspin.” When the subject of cuts and reductions would be asked Trutna would talk about his idea of “program excellence.” He believes that a college should focus on the programs that are wielding results and to make sure that those programs are well funded. For decisions such as what to cut at a college, Trutna wants others to help him make those choices. In reference to cuts he said, “ I would not come up with those myself. I think that needs to be defined by what we need as a college.”
Page 2-3: This year’s “Best in the West” Kern County Fair leaves a lasting impression on attendees with new rides and food. Page 5
By Patricia Rocha Editor in Chief Sonya Christian focused on the importance of long term planning, focusing on student issues, and creating a stronger community within Bakersfield College. “Every connection with a student is an opportunity to transform that student’s life,” she said. “Every connection with the community, a community member, or collective group, or board, is an opportunity to build a friend of BC. “We are here to transform every student that comes to us,” she said about the job of every faculty member. “It doesn’t matter who we are. What we come here for is the same whether we are from Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon or Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, California.” Christian put an emphasis on focusing on the future of BC, saying the difficult decisions the college makes now will forever shape the college’s future. “We are in 2012 right now,” she said. “Let’s think about 2022. We’re not going to have the financial difficulties because we came through that together, making the difficult decisions.” Christian believes there are two lenses, a practical and a subjective one, in which she
sees the ways to cut BC down to its “core.” “We need to stay committed to our basic skills agenda in a smart way,” she said. “There is a practical lens of running an institution, and not shying away from that challenge in any way. “We define core as a community as well. There is a subjective decision based on the values of that institution. “Every institution needs a little something. A little something to bring the students here. A little something to keep our faculty and staff engaged and excited.” Christian had many goals for the future of student success. “While students go through the educational pathways, they’re going to become critical thinkers,” she said. “They’re going to learn how to learn, and they’re going to learn how to think. That’s the vision I have.” Despite the difficult economic times the college is going through, Christian is only optimistic. “I believe that our greatest challenge enables us to do our greatest work,” she said. “When our situation seems disastrous and completely hopeless, it triggers the creativity and brilliance of the people engaged with it.”
Chamberlain enjoys getting back to his teaching roots By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor
The Veteran Center reopens after noise and staff issues are resolved.
Sonya Christian
Page 9
Volleyball team improves to 11-2 by winning back-to-back home matches.
When Greg Chamberlain resigned as Bakersfield College president this past February, he decided to go back to teaching and back to helping students on a personal level. “It has been wonderful to come back to teaching,” said Chamberlain. “I really enjoy the students. The jobs that I have held in administration, while they have been enjoyable for different reasons, but the further up you go the further away you go from the students, and for me it was very important to get back to what I fundamentally believed in, which is do what I can to help the students.” Chamberlain is currently teaching computer studies. That’s a move back to the past for him. He was hired by BC in 1989 to teach computer studies. After resigning as president, he exercised his retreat rights to go
back to the field this fall. “I always wanted to go back to teaching and knew at some point I would go back to teaching before I retired,” he said. “I had to do a little training because, even though I’m not teaching anything I haven’t taught before, things have changed.” Chamberlain cited Microsoft Office as an example. “I’ve used it, and I’ve been using it for the past 12 years, but now I’m teaching it and the versions are different,” he said. He added that the similarity between being president and teaching is that it’s all about the students. “People may not realize it, but when you’re a president making decisions you are thinking of what is best for the students,” he said. “It’s not just about money. It really is what is best for the students so that’s the same. We’re Please see Chamberlain, Page 5
Martin cHang / The Rip
Former president Greg Chamberlain stands outside his office. He now teaches computer studies.